So it's been a while Barbelith but a band has caught my ear and i want to share it!
I just saw Shortwave set as a part of Massive Attacks Southbank Meltdown (currently taking place in London) and they blew my socks off! Imagine Bowie meets the Flaming Lips via Abba with added beats... they sound kindof like that. Its big orchestral music with lots of theramin and two amazing singers, one male (sounds a bit bowie) one female (sounds like abba?!) added together its a bloody great- a bit like Arcade Fire with bleeps and beats .
The new album has been produced by Dangermouse allegedly for free as he likes them so much- strings were also done by Van Dyke Parks and features Mr John Cale on Violin- hefty production credits and it shows.
Has anybody else caught up with them yet? At the moment this is the best thing i've heard all year so i'm shouting about it... thoughts barbeloids?
I really like both of them- the new album Replica Sun Machine is a bit more mainstream pop where as the The Debt Collector is a little more eclectic folky electronica. I guess having just discovered them myself i'm enjoying everything i'm hearing.
There's a few tracks from the new album on their myspace and a couple of videos including the wonderful 'Repeat to Fade' from the first album...
http://www.myspace.com/theshortwaveset
I saw them support Gnarls Barkley t'other week in a pared down form. Very nice stuff - immediately catchy songs, distinct melodiousness...just very good basically. I told the nice lady in the band so, on the way to the toilet.
